By
seeing it allowed to their officers, they will not be convinced that
it is taken from them for their good; and by receiving nothing in
its place, they will not believe that it is done in kindness. On the
contrary, many of them look upon the change as a new instrument of
tyranny. Not that they prefer rum. I never knew a sailor, in my
life, who would not prefer a pot of hot coffee or chocolate, in a cold
night, to all the rum afloat. They all say that rum only warms them
for a time; yet, if they can get nothing better, they will miss what
they have lost. The momentary warmth and glow from drinking it; the
break and change which is made in a long, dreary watch by the mere
calfing all hands aft and serving of it out; and the simply having
some event to look forward to, and to talk about; give it an
importance and a use which no one can appreciate who has not stood his
watch before the mast. On my passage round Cape Horn before, the
vessel that I was in was not under temperance articles, and grog was
served out every middle and morning watch, and after every reefing
of topsails; and though I had never drank rum before, and never intend
to again, I took my allowance then at the capstan, as the rest did,
merely for the momentary warmth it gave the system, and the change
in our feelings and aspect of our duties on the watch.
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